2013 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Where Top 1st-Round QBs Will Land

Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Tyler Wilson are the three most talked about quarterbacks in 2013 NFL mock drafts. But which one of them will be first off the board in April's draft?

Will it be Barkley, or has his stock plummeted as a result of the struggles of the USC Trojans? Likewise, Smith's Mountaineers have been unable to stop anyone defensively and his team also underachieved down the stretch.

Neither of those two played for a team that struggled as badly as Wilson's Arkansas Razorbacks.

But does any of that matter when evaluating the draft status of a quarterback. In the NFL, quarterbacks are expected to make those around them better. Did these three do that in college?

Take a look at a mock draft that uses the Week 12 NFL standings to determine selection order. Check out where these quarterbacks are selected and who your favorite team takes with its first-round pick.

1.) Kansas City (1-10): QB Geno Smith, West Virginia

Neither Brady Quinn nor Matt Cassel has proven capable of utilizing the array of weapons GM Scott Pioli has assembled in Kansas City. This pick is going to be a quarterback.

Despite the struggles of the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Kansas City Chiefs will still go with a dynamic quarterback with the No. 1 overall selection. Smith has the ability to be a top quarterback in the NFL due to his elusive ability and strong, accurate arm.

His biggest strength is his calmness in the pocket and ability to sense pressure. If he can transfer that to the NFL and not tuck it and run too soon, he could be a big success with players like Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe around him.

2.) Jacksonville (2-9): OLB/DE Jarvis Jones, Georgia

Jones is easily the best pass rusher in this class. He'll help boost a Jags defense that recorded only 13 sacks through the first 12 weeks of the season (worst in the NFL).

3.) Oakland (3-8): MLB Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

Oakland parted ways with former first-round pick Rolando McClain during Week 13 of the 2012 season. They'll need to fill that gap with a top talent and Te'o is it. He'll be the pick, unless or course, the Raiders decide to select a blazing fast WR.

4.) Cleveland (3-8): DE Sam Montgomery, LSU

Montgomery has the ideal size GM Tom Heckert looks for in his defensive ends. He's also an explosive pass rusher that the team needs to take attention off of JabaalSheard on the other side of the line.

5.) Philadelphia (3-8): OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M

Whoever is lining up behind center for the Eagles needs a lot more time than he's getting. Joeckel should be the pick and more will likely follow in this draft.

6.) Carolina (3-8): DT Star Lotulelei, Utah

Carolina's been improved up front this season but is still having problems disrupting opposing offensive lines. Lotulelei is a load and will help break up those inside running lanes.

7.) Buffalo (4-7): QB Matt Barkley, USC

The Bills have lived and died by the inconsistency of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Alternatively, Barkley is the ideal quarterback to lead a pro-style offense that can best take advantage of C.J. Spiller's talents. He's more consistent than anything else, something the Bills desperately need.

Barkley is accurate and has a stronger arm than Fitzpatrick. That will allow the Bills to open up their playbook a little more to best take advantage of their weapons.

Adding one or two more playmakers through free agency or the later rounds of the draft would be ideal to help Barkley's development.

8.) San Diego (4-7): OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan

Philips Rivers is no good under pressure, that's become apparently clear. Jared Gaither isn't getting younger and hasn't been able to stay on the field. Lewan makes sense here.

9.) New York Jets (4-7): DT Jonathan Hankins, Ohio State

The Jets have been awful against the run in 2012 and will pick up a key piece to stop the bleeding next season.

10.) Tennessee (4-7): DE Bjoern Werner, Florida State

Rushing the passer has been tough for the Titans at times in 2012. They'll address that by adding a monster defensive end in Werner. The best part is he can also help hold down the edges with his big and strong frame.

11.) Arizona (4-7): QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

The Cardinals have realized the hard way that without a quarterback, you just aren't going to win very many games in the NFL. They haven't been truly competitive since Kurt Warner retired. It seems so long ago, doesn't it?

Wilson could go higher, but the Cardinals would be pleased to see him fall into their laps here at No. 11.

The Arkansas quarterback has the physical look of an NFL quarterback and the tangibles to go along with it. He's accurate and throws a nice deep ball with plenty of velocity to get to its intended target.

12.) Detroit (4-7): CB Dee Milliner, Alabama

Chris Houston on one side, Dee Milliner on the other. Now all they need to do is stay healthy, something that's eluded the Lions' secondary in 2012.

13.) St. Louis (4-6-1): OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M

The Rams are much improved but need to build a better wall to protect Sam Bradford. Matthews will be a good first move to tightening things up upfront.

14.) Miami (5-6): WR Keenan Allen, California

The Dolphins will be elated if Allen falls to them here. He'll help the development of Ryan Tannehill and could complement Brian Hartline and Davone Bess nicely. Neither of them are true No. 1 wide receivers but could flourish with Allen taking the pressure off of them.

15.) St. Louis - from Washington (5-6): OL Barrett Jones, Alabama

Rams fans might not be elated about a second-consecutive offensive linemen being picked, but they should be. Jones will help strengthen the interior of the offensive line to provide a suitable cockpit for Sam Bradford to operate in.

16.) New Orleans (5-6): DT John Jenkins, Georgia

Take your pick with this selection. The Saints need help all over their defense. Beginning by addressing the linemen upfront seems like a logical starting point.

17.) Dallas (5-6): OLB/DE BarkeviousMingo, LSU

Mingo could be an excellent addition to Rob Ryan's defensive scheme. Imagine him and DeMarcus Ware coming off of the edges in unison. Yep, that's pretty scary if you're an opposing quarterback.

18.) Cincinnati (6-5): OG Chance Warmack, Alabama

The Bengals need to beef up the interior of their offensive line. They have struggled to run the football at times and will benefit from the physicality of Warmack.

19.) Tampa Bay (6-5) CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State

Maybe this pick, position wise, is a little too obvious. The Bucs desperately need help at corner and will need to address that need with their top pick.

20.) Minnesota (6-5): WR Robert Woods, USC

Christian Ponder is still on trial but he's not had a consistent and reliable option other than tight end Kyle Rudolph. If Percy Harvin can stay healthy, Ponder would have no excuses with a talent like Woods added to the mix.

21.) Pittsburgh (6-5): DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M

Moore could be a top-tier talent if not for the depth of defensive end in this draft. Pittsburgh always finds its next pass rusher through the draft. Moore is that guy.

22.) Seattle (6-5): DE Alex Okafor, Texas

Seattle will continue to beef up its increasingly elite pass defense by adding Okafor for depth. He won't just sit on the sidelines, though.

23.) Indianapolis (7-4): OLB C.J. Mosley, Alabama

The Colts have several needs in this draft but they could definitely use the best player available at this point: Mosley. Line him up in the middle next to Pat Angerer in the Colts 3-4 scheme and the team's defense will instantly be better.

24.) New York Giants (7-4): DE Dion Jordan, Oregon

Jordan is physical and capable of rushing from the DE or OLB position. The Giants personnel is starting to grow in age and Jordan would be a great addition to the group, especially if he is still available here in the mid-20s.

25.) Green Bay (7-4): S Eric Reid, LSU

Charles Woodson has been hurt this season and isn't going to play forever. Reid is easily the best safety prospect in this draft and would be a nice addition to a suddenly younger Packers secondary.

26.) Denver (8-3): TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

Peyton Manning had Dallas Clark in Indianapolis for all of those years. Now, he'll have the luxury of the best tight end in the 2013 draft to finish off the twilight of his career with in Denver. Plus, the next QB brought in by the Broncos will get Eifert for the prime of his career.

27.) Chicago (8-3): DT Jesse Williams, Alabama

Defensive depth isn't something to take for granted. The Bears are stout upfront but could benefit from having Williams available as part of a rotation or waiting in the wings in the event of an injury up front.

28.) New England (8-3): S T.J. McDonald, USC

The Patriots safeties have been beat frequently throughout 2012. McDonald is a total Bill Belichick pick. He has the speed and instincts to automatically step in and help turn things around for the unit next season.

29.) San Francisco (8-2-1): DT Sylvester Williams, North Carolina

The 49ers have the luxury of not having very many needs and will come away with a top defensive tackle prospect as a result.

30.) Baltimore (9-2): WR Terrance Williams, Baylor

Williams has decent size and fits the mold of the type of receiver the Ravens typically go after. He's quick and can take the top off defenses. Lining him up opposite of Torrey Smith will force defense to stay honest and will create matchup problems galore.

31.) Houston (10-1): S Matt Elam, Florida

The lone chink in the Texans' armor was a six-touchdown performance by Aaron Rodgers. Any help the Texans can find for their secondary will be welcomed with open arms by defensive coordinator Wade Davis.

32.) Atlanta (10-1): WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia

The Falcons could use a pass rusher, instead they'll add their own explosive slot receiver. Austin is by far the most explosive player in this draft and would enhance a wide receiver group that is already one of the best in the NFL.